5A-- MLK literally just ran away with this one on Saturday. Speed kills,and MLK used theirs to thrash their 5A challengers. Felecia Brown was a catalyst as well as Jada Martin with both Ladies propelling the Lady Lions to a decisive win. MLK got off quickly by winning the 4x100 relay in 46.53 and followed that with two more firsts in the 400 meters by Felecia Brown clocking a 54.94 and Jada Martin (above) blazed to a 12.09 taking the gold in the 100 meters. Martin then took control in the 200 with another win in 24.09. Jalissa Terrell cleared 5-7 in the High Jump winning the event by 5". And in what became telling about each Class Champ except Monroe, MLK won the 4 x 400 cruising in at 3:50.25
Westlake fought hard all day working their way up to a team runnerup trophy scoring 50 points. Ashley Johnson won their sole gold medal in the Shot Put with the best mark of the meet in 47-3.50. But these Lady Lions scored big points in placing 2nd in the 4x100 (47.16) and 3rd in the 4x400 (3:55.37). Shaquavia Porter scored 12 points with a pair of 3rd's in both Hurdles and Aminah Blount picked up 9 points with a bronze in the 200 and 6th in the 100. Brookwood took 3rd place team honors propelled by the distance strength with Quandra Shanks placing 2nd in the 800 (2:15.10) and 3rd in the 1600 (5:08.18) and Caroline Kissell added 14 points winning the sliver in the 1600 (5:06.91) and 3rd in the 3200 (11:12) Brittany Brown added points from the Field clearing 10-6 in the Pole Vault for 8 points. Campbell took 4th overall led by their relay squads. Kelli Hardnett who placed 2nd in the LJ (18-9) and Monti Willis who scored 9 points in the Hurdles.
4A-- Southwest DeKalb is back in the driver's seat again. Too much talent and good coaching are a lethal combo and the Lady Panthers bring it every year. The triad of Morgan Snow, Kenya Scott and Greciana Cooper put this one away very early as SW DeKalb poured it on scoring 68 points for a 36 point margin of victory. Morgan Snow got things rolling out on the Field winning the TJ in 38-10 and Kenya Wheeler added a silver medal in the Shot with a put of 42-7. Wasting no time in getting off was their 4x100 squad as they held off Dutchtown for the win in 47.14. This began a series of performers getting big points with Snow taking 2nd in the 100m (11.98),and Kenya Scott placing 6th (12.33). Greciana Cooper placed 5th Friday night in the 1600 and bettered that with a silver medal effort in the 800 (2:19.18) Snow also hurdled to a silver in the 100h in 13.75 behind Kendell Williams of Kell who set the fastest time in history in 13.48!
Dutchtown and Lakeside-Evans' points came from opposite ends of the spectrum with D'town having speed to burn and Lakeside having deep and talented distance runners, but they ended up tied for 2nd overall in the team standings. Anna Bowles won both the 1600 (4:57) and 3200 (10:44), Katie Townsend added a bronze in the 3200 (11:18) and Sarah Bowles placed 3rd in the 1600 (5:10). The Lady Bulldogs were all about speed led by Ciarra Simms as she doubled in the 100 in 11.92 and just smoked the field in the 200 (23.96). Simms also anchored D'town to a silver in the 4x100 (47.34) And Kell was ALL Kendell Williams who flew over the hurdles to golds in 13.48 *(#1 in the USA) and was never challenged in the 300h (42.42). Williams also sprang to another win in the High Jump clearing 5-8.
3A-- Monroe Albany does it again taking advantage on their home mondo. St.Pius X piled the points on early amassing 53 at Friday's close, but it was not enough as Monroe-Albany's speed was overwhelming as the Lady Tornadoes used the home crowd's energy, driving them to yet another well deserved State title. Its always nice to have an athlete who can dominate 3 Field Events which is just what Mimieux Land did Tripling in the HJ and bothe horizontal jumps and teamate Alexandra Childs slung the Discus 142-4 enroute to a 4th gold in the Field. Then right off the bat the Lady Tornadoes came from behind on the anchor leg to win the 4x100 (47.83) Maikea Davis then surged hard the final 20 meters overtaking Eastside's Kimberly Thomas to win the 400 meters in 55.71. Javianne Oliver then put the Lady Tornadoes over the top with 6th in the 100 meters as they passed St.Pius X who had amassed 53 points through Friday. Davis also placed 2nd in the 200 meters in 24.28. Monroe closed out their scoring with a 3:55 2nd place effort in the 4x400 relay.
In similar fashion to 2010, St.Pius jumped out to a nice lead scoring 53 points after the Field and Distance events. But it was just not enough to tame Monroe-Albany's talented bunch. St.Pius X piled the points on early amassing 53 at Friday's close, but it was not enough as Monroe-Albany's speed was overwhelming as the Lady Tornadoes used the home crowd's energy, driving them to yet another well deserved State title. 47.83) National Hammer Throw champ Shelby Ashe got the Lions roaring scoring 18 points easily winning the Shot Put in 45-0 and taking Silver in the Discus at 131-1.Danielle Penk added 5 points with 4th in the Vault. the distance duo of Erin Osment and Devon Dabney piled it on going 1,2 respectively in the 3200 at 11:14 and 11:42. and added 10 points in the 1600 with Dabney taking 3rd (5:19.58) and Osment 5th (5:23). Eastside and Washington County tied for 3rd place overall with 31 points. Eastside had a blazing 3:48.57 to win the Best Performance Award in the 4x400 with Kimberly Thomas also taking a silver in the 400 meters (55.74) and Dallas Worthy followed her for 3rd in 56.89. WashCo was led by Ashley Ivey's win the 100 hurdles in 14.33.
2A-- Decatur made a huge comeback on Saturday clinching the title in the final event. Lately AA has been the most closely contested Class the past 4 years being decided by only a couple of points and even coming down to the final event which happened again Saturday. Decatur's speed paid off as they ascended the leaderboard steadily climaxing in a huge win in the 4x400 relay passing Crawford County and holding off Therrell's challenge as they battled tooth and nail to get in it, but may have expended too much earlier. Decatur picked up 10 big points on Friday thanks to Ashleigh Rasheed's winning bound of 38-9 in the Triple Jump. Rosie Parker struck for the Lady Tigers in the 400 meters taking 2nd in 57.77 and added a 6th place effort in the 200m later. Alaina Cook added crucial points crossing the line 3rd in the 100 Hurdles (15.58) But Decatur won the meet with their collective team speed racing to 2nd in the 4x100 in 49.08 just bested by Therrell, but had more strength in the 4x400 holding off every challenge it looked like Therrell tried in vain to make powering in for the win clinching the title clocking a 3:56.97.
Therrell started the day with 3 points with only had 4 events to score points..nearly requiring wins in each to have a chance at the team title. They almost did it, winning 3 of the 4 including the 4x100 (48.69), Sandrika Simmons doubling in the 400 meters (57.73) and 300 Hurdles (43.91) and coming up just short in the 4x400 for 2nd in 3:59.99 giving them sole possession of 2nd overall. Crawford County placed 3rd and actually led going into the final event led by Olivia Traylor's 800 meter win (2:22.47) and Ivey Slaughter's silver in the Long Jump (18-0.50) North Oconee tried to make it 3 titles in 4 years, but came up just short. Frosh Olivia Pigg took a surprise win in the 1600 and placed 2nd in the 800 (2:22.88) Vaulter Sydney Rodkey pr'd clearing 11-6 for 2nd place.
1A-- Athens Christian rolls to their 2nd consecutive A Championship behind Destiny Jenkins 2 Individual titles in the mid-distance races. ACS looked like they had the goods from the first gun back in February and they were relentless adding 35 points Saturday and topping it off with a dominating performance in the 4x400 relay. Their scoring attack was a balance of technical Field Events, Distance, Hurdles and chipping in points. in a complete team effort. Destiny was just too strong for a game field in both the 800 and 1600 as she pulled away to impressive wins in 2:15.28 (800) and 5:05.55 (1600) Teamate Bryanne Acker added to the Lady Eagles attack in these events also placing 3rd in the 1600 (5:31) and 5th in the 800 (2:23.07) Out on the Field ACS picked up points in several events including Savannah Spranger slinging the Discus 122-11 good enough for 2nd place and Samantha Cortese placing 3rd in the Shot Put (38-0) . On Thursday evening Taylor Noggle ran to 4th in the 3200 (12:19) and her sibling McKenzie placed 7th. ACS was happy to get their 'B' 4x 100 in the finals as they picked up a point, followed by Natasha Braughton's 6th in the 400 meters. Mary Echols picked up a pair of bronze medals in the Hurdles and the Lady Eagles were not challenged in the 4x400 putting the cherry on top of the dessert in 4:01.40.
It was a real battle for 2nd place overall and fittingly Darlington and Jenkins County battled it out until the final event with Darlington placing 3rd in 4:09.53 to draw even with a spent Jenkins County squad. The Lady Tigers got points from several athletes including their 4x100 squad that placed 3rd in 50.05, Ansley McDurmon who scored 10 points including 3rd in the 3200 (12:12) and 5th in the 1600. Anna Swafford had a pair of 4th place efforts in the Hurdles (16:02, 46.87) Jenkins County was spurred by Ayana Walker's talents as she took the Gold in the 400 meters in 56.15, seized 2nd in the 200(25.51) and scored a 3rd with a leap of 16-9 in the Long Jump. First Presbyterian had a very good initiation into GHSA state competition placing 4th despite Grace Tinkey's illness which sidelined her for the 1600 Finals. Tinkey got FPD on the board with a courageous 2nd place efoort in the 3200 (11:46). Fran Johnson had a superb meet with a mild upset winning the 300 Hurdles in 44.56 and leaned to a silver medal in the 100h (15.42) Victoria Coppage scored 5 points in the 800 holding off Acker at the line in 2:22.63 Mt.Zion tied for 5th (w/Bryan County) and were led by Hannah Wood's golds in the 100m(12.08) and 200m (24.61) Bryan County had a good showing led by Tiffany Howard's 12 points including a 3rd in the 800m (2:22.40)